Online Cantilangnon

By Franklin A. Caliguid
Inquirer Mindanao

BUTUAN CITY—No one was killed in Monday’s raid by communist rebels on three mining facilities in Claver, Surigao del Norte province, according to a police official and a rebel spokesperson.

Superintendent Martin Gamba, spokesperson of the Caraga police, on Tuesday said that contrary to earlier reports,  all security guards at the companies of the Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC) that were raided, were safe and all accounted for.

“The three reported deaths were  not true when verified by the Claver town police,” Gamba told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

The supposed fatalities were initially reported by the Claver police chief, Senior Inspector Diomedes Cuadra, Claver Mayor Rosemarie Gokiangco and  Colonel Rodrigo Diapana, commander of the Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur province.

No resistance from guards

Jorge Madlos, spokesperson of the communist-led National Democratic Front in Mindanao, said the reports on the deaths came as a surprise because the New People’s Army guerrillas did not harm any  company guard.

Madlos said in a radio interview yesterday that the guards offered no resistance.

“As far as reports from our field commanders  are concerned, no company guard was killed or hurt during the raid,” Madlos said.

Gamba said the rebels late Monday freed the two remaining TMC officials they took hostage during the raid. He identified them as TMC group manager Rogel Cabauatan and company chief security officer, Rene Ferenal.

Earlier Monday, TMC resident manager Jose Anievas and another TMC official were also set free by the rebels.

By Dennis Santos, Franklin Caliguid
Inquirer Mindanao

BUTUAN CITY – Communist rebels late Monday freed the two remaining hostages they took following the simultaneous raids they staged on three mining companies in Claver, Surigao del Norte, police said Tuesday.

Superintendent Martin Gamba, spokesman of the Caraga police, did not identify the two freed hostages, who also works for Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC), but said they were unharmed.

Gamba said security had been tightened in Surigao del Norte as pursuit operations continued against the rebels.

As this developed, the National Democratic Front (NDF) said there would be more attacks against companies violating its “environmental policies.”

Jorge Madlos, NDF Mindanao spokesperson, said the simultaneous raids were not prompted by money but by the NPA’s enforcement of policies to protect the environment.